The University of Southern Indiana (USI) Online Graduate Nursing Programs – NP, CNS
#18 Best Overall NP School
#8 Most Affordable NP School
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Post Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Post Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Post-Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology CNS
- Post-Master's Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Post-Master's Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health NP
The College of Nursing and Health Professions through the University of Southern Indiana (USI) offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Post-Master’s Certificate programs with five advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) specializations. Students may be required to come to the Evansville, Indiana campus three to four times over the course of their chosen program. Clinical preceptorships are completed locally at approved facilities in eligible states of study.
The five specializations offered for both sets of programs include:
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Campus immersions take place at the Clinical Simulation Center in Evansville, IN, which is designed to feel like a real hospital. Students are able to practice working on simulated patients in a safe environment. Immersions may include patient assessment and patient safety protocols, work with lab results and care, decision-making skills, and collaboration.
Students should verify with the College of Nursing and Health Professions whether the AGPCNP specialization is currently being offered, as well as the number of campus visits required for each program and specialization.
Graduates of the NP and CNS specializations are eligible to sit for their specific national certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
The University of Southern Indiana graduate nursing programs are accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). USI is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is located in Evansville, Indiana.
What to Expect from the University of Southern Indiana Online Graduate Nursing Programs
Admission Requirements: Application materials for both programs include an online application and fee, two references, a professional resume or CV, and official transcripts. U.S. citizens or permanent residents whose first language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency. No GRE or GMAT is required for these programs. The following is also required for each program path:
- MSN: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from a nationally accredited program, through a regionally accredited institution, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and an unencumbered RN license. Completion of undergraduate statistics is required. In addition, one year of full-time work experience is recommended within the past five years.
- Post-Master’s Certificates: Applicants must hold an MSN from a nationally accredited program, through a regionally accredited institution, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and an unencumbered RN license. Transcripts will be evaluated individually to determine whether the clinical core courses need to be completed. PMC applicants must have completed a pharmacology course within the past five years.
State Restrictions: While the University of Southern Indiana is an NC-SARA participant, students from the following states are not eligible to study in the graduate nursing programs: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Washington DC, and Wyoming. It is advantageous that students from eligible states verify with the College of Nursing and Health Professions as well as their state licensing board to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP and CNS licensure.
Study Plan: The MSN specializations begin in the Fall, Spring, and Summer and take about three years to complete. MSN students may be required to come to campus four times throughout the program. The Post-Master’s Certificate specializations begin in the Fall only and can be completed in about two years. Certificate students may need to come to campus up to three times throughout the program although no campus visits may be required.
Summer courses last 10 weeks each, while Fall and Spring courses last 16 weeks each. Students should expect to spend three to five hours per week for each credit taken in addition to listening to the online lectures. Clinicals are completed locally in approved states.
MSN Curriculum: Core courses for all specializations include Roles for Advanced Nursing Practice; Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing; Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing; Population-Based Care and Health Policy; Healthcare Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice; and Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems.
Clinical core courses include Advanced Concepts of Pathophysiology; Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses; and Advanced Health Assessment.
- AGCNS: The AGCNS program comprises 42 credits and 545 clinical hours. CNS specialty courses include Advanced Nursing Assessment and Intervention I-III.
- FNP: The FNP program comprises 42 credits and 665 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Primary Care of Nursing Families I-II and Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum.
- AGACNP: The AGACNP program comprises 42 credits and 705 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Management of Acutely Ill Adults I-II and Management of Acutely Ill Adults Practicum.
- AGPCNP: The AGPCNP program comprises 42 credits and 665 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Primary Care of Adults and Elders I-III.
- PMHNP: The PMHNP program comprises 44 credits and 665 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Psychopharmacology and Psychiatric Mental Health Care of Families I-III.
Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The Post-Master’s Certificate program comprises 24 credits for all specializations except PMHNP which comprises 26 credits. Note that transcript analysis is done on an individual basis to determine the need for the clinical core courses. Study plans follow the applicable courses as listed above for the MSN program, including clinical hours.
Online Experience: Online courses at USI are delivered through the Blackboard online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses are asynchronous with recorded lectures and may include live, proctored exams through Proctorio. Other collaborative tools may include Microsoft Teams, VoiceThread, and Zoom. Students have access to faculty office hours, academic advising, support services, career counseling, library services, and technical support.
On-Site Requirements: Students may need to come to the Evansville, IN campus up to three to four times throughout their programs, although there may be no campus visits required. Students should verify with the College of Nursing and Health Professions as to campus visit requirements. Campus visits last two days each and may include orientation and correspond with specific courses. All other coursework is online and clinicals are completed local to the student.
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Paying for the University of Southern Indiana Online Graduate Nursing Programs
The online graduate nursing programs through the University of Southern Indiana cost $419.06 per credit plus fees for both residents and non-residents of Indiana. Travel expenses for campus visits are not included in tuition costs. Prospective students should inquire with the USI College of Nursing and Health Professions for more information.
USI may offer unsubsidized federal student loans to graduate students according to the FAFSA, as well as other scholarships and aid to graduate students. Students are also encouraged to inquire with their employers as to the option of a tuition reimbursement program. Finally, online graduate students may seek outside opportunities such as community and organizational funding.
The University of Southern Indiana offers affordable MSN and Post-Master's Certificate programs to residents of most states, with three to four campus visits and local clinicals.
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
Post Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
Post-Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology CNS
Post-Master's Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Post-Master's Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health NP
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, Indiana 47712
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
4
42
705
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
42
$519.06
$21,800.52
$519.06
$21,800.52
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
Fall
No
4
42
545
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
42
$519.06
$21,800.52
$519.06
$21,800.52
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
4
42
665
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
42
$519.06
$21,800.52
$519.06
$21,800.52
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
4
42
665
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
42
$519.06
$21,800.52
$519.06
$21,800.52
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
4
44
665
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
44
$519.06
$22,838.64
$519.06
$22,838.64
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
3
24
705
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
24
$419.06
$10,057.44
$419.06
$10,057.44
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
3
24
665
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
24
$419.06
$10,057.44
$419.06
$10,057.44
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
Fall
No
3
24
545
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
24
$419.06
$10,057.44
$419.06
$10,057.44
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
3
24
665
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
24
$419.06
$10,057.44
$419.06
$10,057.44
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
3
26
665
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, WA, WY
Program Tuition
26
$419.06
$10,895.56
$419.06
$10,895.56
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.